Fun Fact about Lauren: She is a lime-aholic; she always has limes in her refrigerator for drinks plus a full stock of lime Tostitos chips
Visiting a College... After the Application Process
October 17, 2005
Since summer started and even since school has started, I've often heard the phrase, "Sorry I'll be gone this weekend, I'm looking at colleges," from my friends. My school even gives seniors two or three excused days for visiting a college and taking a tour of the campus. I diverted from the norm, however, because I never went on such a trip. In fact, I've spent more time at the University of Florida (UF) after applying than I ever did before applying.
I'm sure many people reading this probably think that's a stupid idea. How could I apply to a school without ever truly staying there? How could I not "shop" around at different schools first? It was easy. The Internet is such a great thing, really. On every college website that I have looked at, there is a section for a virtual tour accompanied by a campus map. Going through the virtual tour closely parallels the real thing in my opinion. In addition, a majority of colleges have pictures and virtual tours of the dorms, so there won't be any surprises when you arrive with your things. True, you can't experience the whole package—kids walking around campus, stopping in a dining hall, seeing a real dorm with people in it—but you also don't have to drive 1,000 miles or stand in the blistering heat going from building to building (Yes, it's still over 90 degrees in Florida even when it's October).
My first true visiting experience came a few weeks ago, when a friend and I drove up for a UF football game. Having already applied early, I knew the weekend could be a disaster—what if I hated it when I got there? But that fear turned out to be unwarranted for I loved it all: the people, the campus, the food, and the school spirit. I had never been in a place where every single student, or so it seemed, was decked out in school colors and attended the game together. I knew a few girls there already so they showed me their dorm rooms (at which point, I started making a mental list of all the things I wanted to buy for my dorm room) and then I walked down to the student union (not even a five-minute walk) which consequently, is very crucial to a girl who is constantly eating.
Caught up in a sea of blue and orange when I arrived, I immediately knew that I was going to love Gainesville. And, even though my visiting strategy may have been a bit unorthodox, that's ok with me, because everything is working out accordingly. If I've learned anything throughout this process, it's that everybody has their own ways of dealing with the stress of decisions. However, I am now experiencing something that almost every college-bound senior faces... the Waiting Game.